Packaging for a component of a surgical handheld device and method for producing a packaging

ABSTRACT

After their production, components for surgical handheld devices are packaged in a packaging for the purposes of transport, storage or sterilization. In order that the component is fixed in a receiving space of the packaging, said component is retained by an insert. In addition, a cover which is releasably connected to the packaging body is located above the insert and the receiving space. When the cover is being separated from the packaging body, the insert may fall out in an uncontrolled manner. The invention provides a packaging for a component, said packaging being able to be handled in a simple and safe manner. This is achieved in that at least one insert for fixing a component in a packaging body is connected to a cover of the packaging.

The invention relates to a packaging for a component of a surgical handheld device according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a packaging of this kind according to the preamble of claim 11.

After their production, components for surgical handheld devices, in particular resection electrodes or other components of resectoscopes, are packaged in a packaging for the purposes of transport, storage or sterilization. The components may usually be so-called single-use components, which have to be exchanged regularly or have to be connected to the handheld device before said device is used.

Packagings of this kind consist essentially of a trough-like packaging body which has a receiving space for receiving at least one component. In order that the component is fixed in the receiving space and does not knock back and forth, an insert lies above the component at least in certain regions. In addition, a cover which is releasably connected to the packaging body is located both above the insert and above the receiving space. Prior to the use of the component, this cover has to be pulled off from the packaging body. The insert lying loosely on the component likewise has to be lifted off in order to remove the component from the packaging body.

In the case of the packaging of the generic type, the cover may be configured in the form of a film. This film is preferably a film composed of plastic, in particular an HDPE (high-density polyethylene) film which is permeable to gas and can thus be sterilized in a simple manner. Specifically, the film may be a Tyvek® film. The use of such a film also makes it possible to sterilize the component in the closed packaging by application of an appropriate gas.

The packaging body of the packaging of the generic type may be a blister packaging. The insert may also be composed of a plastic, preferably of PET, or a similar material.

In the case of known packagings of the generic type, it has proven to be disadvantageous that, when the cover is being separated from the packaging body, the insert may fall out in an uncontrolled manner and thus may constitute a hindrance, particularly during the preparation of a treatment or during the treatment. It is also the case that the component jams in the insert and falls out together with the insert when the packaging is being opened. As a result, the component cannot be used for the treatment.

The invention is based on the object of providing a packaging for a component, and also a method for producing the packaging, which can be handled in a simple and safe manner.

A solution to this object is described by the features of claim 1. Accordingly, provision is made for at least one insert for fixing a component in a packaging body to be connected to a cover of the packaging. As a result of this connection of the insert to the cover, during the opening of the packaging or during the pulling off of the cover, the insert is pulled upward together with said cover. The insert thus cannot fall out in an uncontrolled manner during the opening of the packaging. This connection of the insert to the cover makes it possible to use the packaging in a simple and safe manner.

In particular, provision may further be made for the insert to be adhesively bonded to the cover. Since the cover of the packaging is generally adhesively bonded to the packaging body in any case, the process of also producing a similar adhesive bond between an upper side of the insert and a lower side of the cover represents a further development that is easy to carry out.

Preferably, the invention further provides that the packaging body has a border which runs around the receiving space, an upper side of the border being connected, in particular releasably, to a lower side of the cover. The border is formed in such a way that the contact area between the packaging body and the cover is large enough to produce a sufficiently strong bond between the packaging body and the cover. The closed encircling border of the packaging body may be configured to be larger on end sides of the packaging body than on edge regions, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body. It is also conceivable for the cover to protrude beyond the border on the end sides, in order to form pull-off tabs. These pull-off tabs can be used to separate the cover from the border in a particularly simple and reliable manner.

Preferably, provision is further made for the insert to be able to be deposited in the receiving space on the component, specifically in such a way that an upper side of the packaging body or the border and an upper side of the insert lie in one plane. By virtue of the fact that the aforementioned surfaces lie in one plane, the two surfaces can equally contact the lower side of the cover, specifically without the cover becoming warped or without said cover being exposed to additional mechanical stress. To this end, the border of the packaging body may have a corresponding groove or a shoulder, into which a border of the insert can be inserted. This has the advantage that the insert can be joined into the receiving volume specifically only in a single position, and it is thus possible to ensure that the component is protected in an optimal manner or that the aforementioned upper sides of the insert and of the packaging body lie in one plane.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention may further provide that the upper side of the border is formed differently than the upper side of the insert, preferably that an adhesive between a lower side of the cover and the upper side of the border develops an adhesive force different than that between the lower side of the cover and the upper side of the insert. Due to these different adhesive actions, it is possible to avoid a situation whereby the cover is also pulled off from the insert when the cover is being pulled off from the packaging body. Equally, however, provision is also made for the aforementioned upper sides to be formed in a similar manner.

In addition, it is conceivable for the at least one insert to have at least one thermoformed region which projects into the receiving space and at least partially represents a negative of the component. This thermoformed region fixes the component into the receiving space in a simple but effective manner.

Particularly preferably, provision is made for the at least one insert to be flexible or to be made flexible along a longitudinal axis. To this end, the at least one insert may have at least one cutout, an incision, a material tapering, a perforation or a predetermined breaking point transverse to a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the at least one insert may alternatively have a plurality of parallel cutouts, incisions, material taperings, perforations or predetermined breaking points transverse to the longitudinal axis. As a result of these cutouts and the like, the at least one insert obtains increased flexibility parallel or transverse to a longitudinal axis. When the preferably film-like cover is being pulled off, the insert behaves in a manner similar to the cover, which firstly leads to easy pulling off of the cover, but secondly also prevents the cover from being separated from the insert. In addition to the cutouts etc. listed here, further means which make the insert flexible are also conceivable. Equally, it is also conceivable for the insert to be produced from a particularly flexible material, such as for example an elastomer.

A further exemplary embodiment of the invention makes provision for the at least one cutout, the at least one incision, the at least one material tapering, the at least one perforation or the at least one predetermined breaking point to be arranged between the thermoformed regions or to lie in the thermoformed regions. Depending on the dimensioning or design of the insert, it may be advantageous to place the cutouts etc. at preferred positions.

A method for producing a packaging for solving the aforementioned object has the features of claim 11. Accordingly, provision is made that initially a packaging, in particular a sterile packaging, for a component as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 10 is provided. Thereafter, a component for a surgical handheld device is deposited into a receiving space of a packaging body of the packaging. At least one insert is then deposited into the receiving space of the packaging body. In the next step, a connecting means is applied to a border of the packaging body and to an upper side of the at least one insert. This connecting means may be an adhesive. Finally, a cover is deposited onto the border of the packaging body and onto the upper side of the at least one insert. The connection of the cover to the insert makes it possible to produce the packaging in a particularly simple manner in such a way that it is possible to avoid a situation whereby the insert falls out in an uncontrolled manner during opening.

Provision may further be made that, prior to the third step, the at least one insert is provided with at least one cutout, an incision, a material tapering, a perforation, a predetermined breaking point or the like transverse to a longitudinal direction. As a result of these measures, the insert obtains a high flexibility in a simple manner, which leads to simple and reliable opening of the sterile packaging.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a packaging,

FIG. 2 shows an exploded illustration of the packaging as per FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of an insert.

FIG. 1 illustrates a possible exemplary embodiment of a packaging 10 according to the invention. The exemplary embodiment of the packaging 10 illustrated here in exemplary fashion is of elongate configuration and has two short sides and two long sides. The shape of the packaging 10 is essentially dependent on the type or shape of component that is intended to be received in the packaging 10. The component may for example be a resection electrode of a resectoscope (not illustrated). However, it is also conceivable for other constituent parts or components of a surgical handheld device to be received by the claimed packaging 10.

The packaging 10 essentially consists of a trough-like packaging body 11, an insert 12 and a cover 13. For identification of the packaging 10 or of the component, a marking or a label 14 can be applied to the cover 13 (FIG. 2). The packaging body 11 has a receiving space 15 in which a component (not illustrated in the figures) can be deposited. The packaging 10 or the packaging body 11, which may be a blister packaging, has correspondingly formed receiving spaces 15 in order to receive the component of the surgical handheld device.

The insert 12 is then deposited onto the component or into the receiving space 15. The insert 12 and the receiving space 15 or packaging body 11 are formed in such a way that an upper side 17 of the insert 12 and an upper side 18 of the packaging body 11 lie in one plane. This has the advantage that the film-like cover 13 can be evenly applied to the packaging body 11.

The cover 13, which may be configured in the form of a plastics film or in the form of an HDPE film, in particular in the form of a Tyvek® film, is adhesively bonded to the upper side 18 of a border 19 of the packaging body 11. To this end, a connecting means or adhesive is deposited onto the border 19 and onto the upper side 17 of the insert 12. This connecting means interacts with the cover 13. When the cover 13 is being pulled off from the packaging body 11, the insert 12 is also raised with it, avoiding a situation whereby the insert 12 falls out in an uncontrolled manner.

In order to increase the flexibility of the insert 12, provision is made according to the invention for said insert to have at least one cutout 20 transverse to a longitudinal axis. A plurality of cutouts 20 arranged parallel to one another are indicated in FIG. 3. As an alternative to or in addition to the cutouts, it is also conceivable for the insert 12 to be equipped with incisions, material taperings, perforations, predetermined breaking points or the like. When the cover 13 is being pulled off from the packaging body 11, the insert 12 bends or rotates slightly about the cutouts 20. As a result, firstly the flexibility of the insert is improved, and secondly a situation whereby said insert detaches from the cover 13 in an undesired manner is avoided.

A further exemplary embodiment may provide for the packaging body 11 to be provided with a plurality of inserts 12 which are separated from one another. This plurality of inserts 12 are each connected, separately from one another, to the cover 13 in the manner described above. The aforementioned advantages of the invention can likewise be achieved by means of this multi-part form of the insert 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

-   10 Packaging -   11 Packaging body -   12 Insert -   13 Cover -   14 Label -   15 Receiving space -   17 Upper side -   18 Upper side -   19 Border -   20 Cutout 

1. A packaging, for a component, for a surgical handheld device, with a trough-like packaging body which has a receiving space for receiving the at least one component, with at least one insert for fixing the at least one component in the packaging body and a cover for closing the packaging body body, wherein the at least one insert is connected to the cover.
 2. The packaging, for a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert is adhesively bonded to the cover.
 3. The packaging, for a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packaging body has a border which runs around the receiving space, an upper side of the border being connected to a lower side of the cover.
 4. The packaging, for a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert can be deposited in the receiving space such that an upper side of the packaging body and an upper side of the insert lie in one plane.
 5. The packaging, for a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper side of the border is formed differently than the upper side of the insert.
 6. The packaging, for a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one insert has at least one thermoformed region which projects into the receiving space and at least partially represents a negative of the component.
 7. The packaging, for a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one insert is flexible or is made to be flexible along a longitudinal axis.
 8. The packaging, for a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one insert has at least one cutout, an incision, a material tapering, a perforation or a predetermined breaking point transverse to a longitudinal axis.
 9. The packaging, for a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one cutout, the at least one incision, the at least one material tapering, the at least one perforation or the at least one predetermined breaking point are arranged between the thermoformed regions or lie in the thermoformed regions.
 10. The packaging, for a component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packaging body is configured in the form of a blister packaging and/or the cover is a film.
 11. A method for producing a packaging, for a component, for a surgical handheld device, with a trough-like packaging body having a receiving space for receiving the at least one component, with at least one insert for fixing the at least one component in the packaging body and a cover for closing the packaging body, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) providing a packaging, as claimed in claim 1; b) depositing a component into the receiving space of the packaging body; c) depositing the at least one insert into the receiving space of the packaging body; d) applying a connecting means, to a border of the packaging body and to an upper side of the at least one insert, e) depositing the cover onto the border of the packaging body and onto the upper side of the at least one insert.
 12. The method for producing a packaging, as claimed in claim 11, wherein, prior to step c), the at least one insert is provided with at least one cutout, an incision, a material tapering, a perforation or a predetermined breaking point transverse to a longitudinal direction. 